Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in South Korea
South Korea: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 2.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in South Korea, 1969–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in South Korea is 2.8%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 21.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in South Korea peaked at 6.8% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 2.0%, in 1996.
South Korea ranks 150th of 185 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 51 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.8% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 1 |
| 1970s | 3.8% | 3.2% | 4.2% | 5 |
| 1980s | 3.8% | 2.5% | 5.2% | 9 |
| 1990s | 3.2% | 2.0% | 6.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.4% | 3.0% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.4% | 2.8% | 3.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.1% | 2.7% | 3.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More reference data data for South Korea
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.1 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.7164 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.8996 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 2.24 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.9115 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 135 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in South Korea?
- Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in South Korea was 2.8% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 6.8% in 1998.
- What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.0% in 1996.
- How does South Korea rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
- South Korea ranks 150th out of 185 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 51 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.